Nubbing of coral colonies: A novel approach for the development of inland broodstocks

Published source details Shafir S., Rijn J.V. & Rinkevich B. (2001) Nubbing of coral colonies: A novel approach for the development of inland broodstocks. Aquarium Sciences and Conservation, 3, 183-190.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery Action Link
	Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery Action Link
	Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery Action Link

Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery

A study (year not given) at an aquarium in Eilat, Israel (Shafir et al. 2001), found that cultivated stony coral Stylophora pistillata nubbins (small fragments) survived and grew and there was no difference in survival or growth rate for nubbins taken from the donor colony branch tip compared to mid-branch. After 90 days, all 20 nubbins taken from branch tip or mid-branch survived. The average growth rate was 0.42 polyps/nubbin/day and the average number of polyps had increased from 5–44/nubbin (branch-tip) and 5–47/nubbin (mid-branch). There was no significant difference between average polyp numbers on tip or mid-branch nubbins. One S. pistillata colony was collected from 4–6 m deep and taken to an ex-situ aquarium. Twenty nubbins (~five polyps each) were taken from the colony (eight from branch tips; 12 from mid-branch ~3 cm below the tip), super-glued to glass slides, and placed in a 16-L running seawater aquarium. Survival and growth (number of new polyps) were measured weekly for 90 days using a binocular microscope.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery

A replicated study (year not given) at an aquarium in Eilat, Israel (Shafir et al. 2001) found that cultivated stony coral Stylophora pistillata nubbins (small fragments) in an ex-situ nursery under a combination of Floura, Cool-White, and Blue-Blue lighting had a greater increase in new polyp development than nubbins under individual lights. After 107 days the average number of polyps/nubbin was higher for nubbins cultivated under the combination lighting (34 polyps/nubbin; 195% increase) than those under single Floura (31 polyps/nubbin; 160% increase), Cool-White (24 polyps/nubbin; 128% increase), or Blue-Blue (20 polyps/nubbin; 116% increase) lights. Three wild-growing S. pistillata colonies were collected from 4–6 m deep and taken to an ex-situ aquarium where 192 nubbins (64/colony) were collected from branch tips and mid-branch. Nubbins were super-glued to glass slides and distributed evenly between four 16-L aquarium tanks. Each tank was subjected to a different light regime with three fluorescent tubes/aquarium comprising either Blue-Blue, Cool-White, Fluora, or a combination of all three lights. The number of new polyps was counted each week using a binocular microscope.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery

A replicated study (year not given) at an aquarium and natural reef in Eilat, Israel (Shafir et al. 2001) found that stony coral Stylophora pistiallata nubbins (small fragments) had a higher survival rate in an ex-situ nursery than an in-situ nursery, and that ex-situ nubbins grew. After 40 days, 95% of ex-situ cultivated nubbins had survived compared to none of the in-situ cultivated. After 103 days, 60% of the ex-situ nubbins survived. After 40 days, 153/300 (51%) ex-situ nubbins had grown across the substrate and after 103 days, 117/300 (39%) had grown. Three wild-growing S. pistillata colonies were collected from 4-6 m deep and taken to an ex-situ aquarium where 200 nubbins (5-15 polyps/nubbin) were removed from each colony. Nubbins were super-glued onto 10 × 10 cm plastic squares. Three hundred were placed into ex-situ aquaria and 300 were placed 5 m deep, 1 m above the natural reef substrate (method not reported). Survival and growth were measured after seven, 40, and 103 days (method not reported).

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)